The local Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) on the Eagle Grove ambulance crew are trained to respond and deal with any number of medical conditions or injuries, and these people might come from all walks of life but have one desire…to serve their community and the residents who are also their friends and neighbors. Now there’s a need for crew members, and maybe some of you out there can step up to help.
“We’ve lost a few members,” stated Mickey Cooper. “Some retired and some moved away. We decided it was time to offer a class, and it’s going to be right here in town.” It starts November 3 and will be held in Room 110 at the North Central Iowa Career Academy. It will be every Tuesday and Wednesday from 6-10 p.m. Cost of the course is $1,849, and tuition assistance is available. Here’s the best part…The City of Eagle Grove will pick up all of your cost!
There is a stipulation in the reimbursement agreement you will sign, which states that you will agree to work for the City as an EMT for at least two years and volunteer at least 75 hours per month during that time from the date you are properly certified as an EMT by the State of Iowa. If the trainee doesn’t successfully complete the course, or fails to achieve and maintain certification or is dismissed during the probationary period, they shall have to reimburse the City for 100 percent of the total training expenses. Furthermore, if the trainee voluntarily resigns from the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) department without having served as a certified EMT, they will reimburse the City on a prorated scale based on the number of months remaining under the agreement.
“It’s a great opportunity to give back to Eagle Grove,” said crew member Lashelle Burger. “I am excited to be taking the class a second time as a refresher. The class gives participants the knowledge to care for any type of medical emergency, from minor burns to serious heart problems. As a resident of Eagle Grove, I am very proud of our community and the close-knit family atmosphere our small town has. Medical emergencies can be very frightening and to be able to provide care and ease the anxiety and fear a patient is experiencing is very rewarding.”
“When it comes to being a member of the EMS, some people feel a call to do it while some others see it as a source of extra income,” said Cooper. “Either way, you have to be committed to doing it but it’s very rewarding.”
